MORNING Star Church International will construct an orphanage in Kitwe's Mulenga township.

The center will include, among other things, a school where children would be exposed to life skills that would help them become independent.

Morning Star Church reverend, John Jere, said in Kitwe yesterday that the church has resolved to supplement government efforts in caring for orphans and vulnerable children in society.

Reverend Jere said the church had a God- given responsibility to visit widows and orphans in affliction.

He was speaking during the feeding program organized by the church at Mulenga Community School where over 1,000 orphans benefited.

He said the church needed to extend love to orphans practically because God called it the salt of the earth.

"Faith without works is dead, we cannot close our eyes to people's suffering," he said.

Revered Jere said the church wanted to help orphans and vulnerable children not only through giving them food and clothing, but with life skills so that they attained independence.

He said this would be the only way for the church to give hope to orphans and vulnerable children.

"We want to support these children and help them live long even after being proven HIV positive," he said.

Reverend Jere hailed Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development, Gladys Nyirongo, over her decision to punish parents who have failed to take care of their own children.

He said it was not in order for parents to just produce children and leave them on the streets.

He referred to the word of God in Genesis chapter one verse 28 where God blessed man and woman and told them to be fruitful and subdue the earth.

"Subdue in this context means to govern, control and care for these children. So parents have a responsibility to care for these children," he said.

Reverend Jere called on ministers in the country to visit their communities and identify the needs of their electorates instead of waiting for election period. He urged government to increase and improve employment opportunities if corruption in Zambia is to be contained.